Caliper for threaded joints



' Dec. 22, 1953 n J', D, GARDNER 2,663,086

CALIPER FOR THREADED JOINTS Filed April 14, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l TToE/VEY.

Dec. 22, 1953 J. D. GARDNER 2,663,086

CALIPER FOR THREADED JomTs Filed April 14, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

BY TTOQNEY.

JIA/Es D. AQDNE;

Patented Dec. 22, 1953 .if A.

' oALIPEn FQRTHREADED Jom'rs ames D; Gardner, Houston, Tex., assignor to Baash-Ross Tool Company, Los Angeles, Calif.,

a company of California Application April 1 4, 1952, Serial No. 282,210 (c1. :ia- 148) 10 Claims.

he present inventionrelates' to measuringdevices, Vand more particularly to calipers for Ydetermining the sizes of threaded joints, such asV tool .joints used in cil, gas and similar well bores.

" i y.Anzobject ofthe present invention isto provide an improved caliper that Aenaicales the size cfa threaded joint, such Vasa tool joint, to be determined readily. i

Another object of the invention istov provide a caliper than can be set. in .various selected positions fbi* different types of4 tool joints, and which gives'a direct determination of .the size of each 'tool joint for Whichit mayhave been preset.

A further .object of theinvention isto provide l'a caliper vcapable ofuse ini directly .ascertaining the size ofv both the'pinfand boxv portions of (a 'threaded joint, such asa Y.toolzjoint used in well bores. 'it

Yet another objectof ythe invention isto ,pro-

vide a caliper capable of beingrpreset fordiiferent types of tool jointsand ofiurnishing a direct reading of thegsizeiofA thepin andg box ends of eachtypeofjoint. z 1

This invention possesses.. any iotheradvantages and has other objectswhicnmay be made Y more clearly apparentfrom a consideration of a form in which it may beembodied. lThis form is shown in the `drawings accompanying; and forming part-of the present specification;r fItWill now be described in detail, for the-purpose of illustrating the general principles'of theinvention; but it is to' be understoodthat such detailed description is not to be taken Afin a limiting sense,

fsnce fthe scope' Lof. the invention is best deiined by the appendedclaima* Referring to;the drawings Figure 1 is a planjviewora caliper embodying the invention, with itsparts in-position for measuring the outside diameter of a member;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged crosssection taken along thefline 2-2 on Figngl;4

Fig. 3 is a view similar to ;Fig.gl,- disclosing the use of the caliperl in T measuring an inside di- ,ameter Fig. 4 is an enlargedsection .takenalong the line 4-f-40I1 Fig.3;i i j Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan; view of the indicator vportion of a dial for givingthesizes ofthefdify ferent types of tool joints;.

Fig. 6 is the same .view as liig. 15, .zbutsetting -fforth the different graduations', contained -inthe idiiierent'portions'of the indicator dial 'face shown ..A,.,,. i j

rig. af'pmnviewf er the vaverse 1Sifdeiof'nie dialdisclosed'in Figsc and-6;

,Fig 8 is an explodedk view ofthe pin and box portions of a typicalLtool joint". Y f

' The caliper'disclosed in the drawings has' been particularly designed for determiningthe sizes-of dierent types of tool joints.v It can be preset for a known kind of joint, and, by measuring either a portion of the pinor the box of the joint, its size is directly indicated onthe caliper.

The specic caliper illustrated will give a direct indication of the size of the pin portion Ajof the joint by measuring the outside diameter B of the joint at the base C ofthe vpin.- The caliper can also give the size of the box portion D of the joint by measuring the inside diameter E of the counterbore inthe box at'its. shoulder or outer end portionF. 1 j f The caliper includes a central or intermediate dial I0 having a frontindicator face I I and a rear reference' face I2.- n Disposed onthefront or indicator face II is an indicatordisc -Iii, `from which an indicator arm Ill extends that terminates in a finger I5 adapted to engage the pin or box portions A, D of the tool joint. Disposedadjacent the reference face `I2 o f the dial is a reference f disc IG that has a referencefarm .I1-,extending therefrom and terminating in a Alinger I8,` which vis also adapted to engage the pin or box portions, A,Dofthejoints. f

The reference disc landarm Il can be moved arcuately With respect to the dial Ill-to various selective positions, and can be locked-'in suchv selected positions. Similarly, the indicatordisc/IS and its arm I4 Acan be moved arcuately with respect to the dial I 0 and the reference disc and its arm, in avmannerl described below. To enable such pivotal or relative arcuate movements to occur, a bolt I9 extends through-central aligned holes 20 in the dial II) and discs I3, I6, the bolt having a head 2l engaging one ofthe discs, such as the' indicator1disc-I3, there being a nut 22 threadedA on=thejbolt andengaging.l the outer surface of the other disc I6, in-order to holdthe discs and dial in appropriateassembled relation with respect vto each other.

As disclosed most clearly -iii-Fig. 7, the back face II2 of the dial has a series Vof indications` 23 thereon, which maybe Vuniformly spaced rarim'nd'lits axis, and which are indicative of the type ofjoint which is to'be measured. As shown in Fig,.7, .by way of example, tliese indications may represent the following types of tool joints: Y" (any selected type), API-Drill-ollar, Reed Double Streamline, Hughes External FluSh,- Hughes. Xtra Hoheity & J .(Baash-Ross) APIRegular, API: Internal vrlllush, and API FuurHolef.- Ofcourseethef-API jontsconform to the standards of the American Petroleum Institute, whereasy the Baash-Ross, Reed and Hughes types of tool joints are those specifically designed and manufactured by the Baash-Ross Tool Company, Reed Roller Bit Company and the Hughes Tool Company.

The indications of the types of joints are preferably disposed on lines radiating from the axis of the dial, and `disposed on such radial lines at the outer margins of the dial I are holes 24 adapted to receive a detent in the form of a rivet 25 secured to the reference disc I-B (Fig. 4.).. This latter disc is provided with a reference window or opening 26 that can coincide selectively with the reference indications 23 lon the dial l -in- 1" dicative of the type of tool joint. When such reference Iwindow or opening 2B is :disposed over a particular type of tool joint, the reference disc detent 25 will be received in the hole 24 in radial alignment with such type of joint, in order to releasably couple the reference :disc i6 and its reference arm Il to the dial Hl.

After the reference disc .Ii has been .appropriately shifted to dispose its window .25 and detent k25 in proper relation to the ltype of tool joint 23, the indicator disc I3 `and its .arm 'M lcan be moved about the axis of the bolt I9, .and the lingers I5, I8 on the arms Ill, IfI placed ton the vpin or box portions of the particular tool joint, to provide a direct reading of the size fof the tool joint. The indicator disc I3 has yan Jopennig 28, and a pointer 29 at its outermost portion extending into this opening, vwhich is cooperable with a series of Agraduations or indicia 31) .disposed on the .outer portion of the front or indicating face II of the dial I0, to afford a direct reading of the outside diameter B of the pin A at vits base C. The indicator disc I3 is also provided lwith :another Window or opening 3 I, into which an indicator .pointer 32 extends, this latter opening fand pointer being disposed radially inward 'of the other opening 23 and pointer 29, for cooperation with a different circularly arranged series `of graduations or Aindicia 33 that will enable a direct reading -of the inside diameter E of the box portion D of the joint to be'made.

The particular indications -or graduations 3Q, 3-3 of the pin and box diameters for the `different types of tool joints are disclosed i-n both Figs. 5 and 6, for purposes of `clarity and explanation, although it is to be understood that in the actual caliper it will only be necessary for the graduations shown in Fig. 6 to be used. Fig. v5 is representative to the types of tool joints for which the particular sets of graduations apply. Thus, -to determine the size of the pin A of the tool joint, the outer circumferentially arranged `series of graduations 3B are disposed in appropriate positions on the front face II of the indicator dial IIJ, to indicate, reading in a clockwise direction in Fig. 5, the sizes of an API Drill Collar, Y Tool Joint, API Full Hole Joint, API Internal Flush Joint, API Regular Joint, R 8i J Joint, 'Hughes Xtra I-Iole Joint, Huges External Flush Joint and YReed Double Streamline Joint. The series of box indications 33 are arranged 'on the same circle disposed inwardly of the pin indications 30, starting from the API Drill Collarand continuing sequentially through the same types vof joints that were mentioned above in connection with the pin end. The box indications '33 are ang-ularly displaced with respect to the corresponding pin graduations 3Q, in `View of the different relative positions occupied bythe indicator and reference discs I3, -l and their respective farms LII, 'I1 `when 4 measuring inside diameters instead of outside diameters.

Each type of tool joint has two sets of indications along an arcuate extent of the indicator face II of the dial I0. Thus, the type of joint Y has a series of graduations or indications 39a for its pin portion, and also a series of indications '33a .tor its box portion.

In the use of the caliper, it is necessary to know the type of tool joint. Assuming the tool joint to be of the Y type, the reference disc I5 1 is deflected outwardly of the dial I0 to a slight extent, to remove the detent 25 from the dial hole 24 in which it may have been previously positioned, and the reference disc I6 and its arm ii are moved with respect to the dial until the rci- .erence window 2B is disposed in alignment with the Y indications 23 on the reference face I2 of -the dial. The disc may be released to allow the detent 25 to enter the hole 24 corresponding to the Y reference indication. In this manner, the caliper has been preselected for .determining the size of a Y joint for both 'the pin end and the box end.

Assuming the size zof the pin end `A of the joint is to :be determined, the finger I8 of the reference arm I? .is placed on the shoulder I-I of the pin at the base C of the pin and the indicator disc :I3 'and arm `I4 lshifted luntil the .indicator ringer I5 is disposed diametrically opposite the .reference finger I8 Aat the base C of the pin. The pin pointer 29 will then be disposed opposite the particular graduation 30a on the Y scale portion of ,the dial I0, to .give a direct reading of the size ofthe pin, such .reading being obtainable by viewing the dial face III through the pin window or opening .2'8 of the indicator disc I3. Such use of the caliper is illustrated in Fig. l.

vIf it is desired 'to determine the size or the box portion D Aof the Y tool joint, then the caliper arms IM, .I1 Vare reversed to make a measurement of an inside diameter, such as illustrated in Fig. 3. The caliper is inserted within the counterbore E of the lbox D and the end of the vreference arm 'linger Il8 disposed :in the :counterbore at its outer end or shoulder F. The indicator disc i3 and arm I4 Aare then appropriately shifted outwardly until the end of the `indicator linger I5 engages the corresponding `diametrica'lly opposite por- -tion of the counterbore E at the shoulder F, The box pointer .32 will then be Ydisposed at the appropriate `graduation of the Y box scale 33a, to give a direct reading `o1indica'tion of the size of the box, vthe box opening 32| in the 'indicator disc I3 enabling such scale to be viewed.

In a similar fashion, any A'of the other types of A:tool joints can be measured, both their pin and their box ends, by appropriate shifting of the reference disc I5, to place its window 26 in alignment with the particular type o1" tool joint 23 in dicated on the reference face lf2 of the dial Irl. and its 'detent 25 inthe corresponding hole 2. The indicator disc I3 and its arm I4 can lbe appropriately manipulated to measure either the pin portion fof the joint, or the box portion, in the manner specically described above in con- .nection 'with a Y joint.

'In Jorder to facilitate the shifting of the reference disc I6 and its arm 'ITI with respect to the dial 1'0, the latter may have serrations or indentations .3.5 :on its' periphery between the detent holes 2.4, to .enable .irmer lgrasping of the dial I0 by the hand of the user.

The WindowsZ-B, 3:1 in the indicator disc I3 and the pointers 2S, 32 are disposed outwardly yof the indicator disc to as great an extent as possible, to enable the corresponding graduations 30, 33 on the indicator face H oi the dial I0 to be disposed as far apart as possible, since such graduations can then be provided on circles of greater-radii. Although the box and pin pointers 29, 32 on the indicator disc are disposed diametricallyopposite one another, it is evident that they can be otherwise displaced from one another. Of course, it would then be necessary to appropriately'dispose the different graduations 3B, A33 for each type of joint on the indicator face of the dial. For that matter, the graduations 33 indicative of the size of a particular tool joint boxare arcur-I ately displaced from the corresponding vgraduations `3!) of that type of joint representative ofv its pin end, and such displacement` is not'equal to the displacement of the box rand pin'pointers 29, 32 from one another, in view of the, 'necessity for reversing the indicator and reference arms I4, l1 with respect to each other, in the event the internal diameter of a joint box is to be determined, rather than the outside diameter of a joint pin.

It is, accordingly, apparent that a caliper lhas been devised that enables the sizes of d'ierent types of joints to be determined very rapidly and accurately. It is merely necessary to'know the type of the joint and set the'reference disc I6 in its appropriate `position with respect tothe dial l0, the disc 4lli being retained in this position by the detent 25. Thereafter, the caliper is used in a normal manner and a direct reading of the size of the pin or box determined.

The inventor claims: n

1. A caliper for measuring threaded joints, comprising a main member, a reference member -adjacent said main member and adjustablevwith respect thereto, one of said membersY havingreierence indications cooperanblek with said lother member and representative of different type` of joints, an indicator member adjacent said main member and adjustable with respectthereto, said main member and indicator member having cooperable indicating means thereondetermining the sizes of different joints, saidreierence member and indicator member having means thereon engageable with a portion of a joint to locatesaid indicator member with respect to saidmai'n member and indicating means, and coengagingdetent means on saidvmainv member and reference mem'- ber reieasably coupling said mainl memberA and reference member together in various relativel positions.

,2. A caliper .for comprising a main member having reference indications thereon representative of different types of "joints, said'membe'r having size indications thereon of different sizes of said joints, a reference member adjacent said main member and adjustable with respect .theretol to dispose; said reference member selectively with respecttosaid reference indications, anindicator member adjacent said main member adjustable with respect-,thereto and cooperable with said size indications vto determine vthe sizes of `differentftypes of joints, said reference member and indicator member having means thereon engageable with a portion of a joint to locate said indicator member with respect to the size indications of said main member, and coengaging detent means on said main member and reference member releasably-coupling said main member and reference member together in various relative positions.

, 3. A caliper for measuring threaded joints,

measuring lthreaded joints,`

comprising a, dial having reference indications on one face thereof 4representing different types of joints, the other face of said dial having size indications of different sizes of joints, a reference disc adjacent said one face and having an opening` through which said reference indications can be observed, an indicator disc adjacent said other facek and having an opening through which said size indications can be observed, means mounting said dial and discs for pivotal movement with re spect to each other to enable said discs to be adjusted with respect to each other and said dial, in order that said reference disc can be shifted between reference indications and said indica tor disc"'shited` with respect to said size indications, said discs having means thereon engageable with a portion of 'a joint to locate said indicator disc with respect tofsaid size indications.

4. A 'caliper for" measuring threaded joints, comprising a dial having circumferentially spaced referenceindicationsr on one face thereof representing different typesof joints, the other face of said dial having circumferentially spaced groups of size indications of said types of joints, a reference disc adjacent said one face and having an opening selectively disposable over said reference indications uponA relative rotation between said dial and disc, anindicator disc adjacent said otherrace' and having an opening selectively disposable Aover said spaced4 groups of size indications upon vrelative rotation between saiddial and indicator disc, means mounting said dial and discs yfor relative rotation about a common axis, said discs having means thereon engageable witha portion of a joint to locate said indicator disc with respect to said size indications. n y i l 5. A caliper for measuring threaded joints, comprising a dial having, circumferentially spaced reference indications on one face thereof representing kdiierent types of joints, the other face of .said dial having circumferentially spaced groups of size indications of said types of joints, a reference dise adjacent said one face and having ranopening selectively disposable over said reference indications upon relative rotation between said4 dial and disc, detentmeans on said dial and discreleasably coupling said disc to said dial in such lselected positions, an indicator disc adjacent said other face and having an opening selectively disposable over said spaced groups oi size, indications upon relative rotation between said dial and indicator disc, means mounting said dial and discs for relative rotation about a commonl axis, saidv discshaving means thereon engageable ,with a portion of va joint to locate said indicator' 'disc with respect, to, said size indications. f U

` v6.A. caliper f orrneasuring threaded joints, comprising'v a'f dialv` having circumferentially spaced referenceindications on one face thereof vrepresenting n diierent types of joints, the other face of said dial 'having circumferentially spaced .groups Vofe'xte'rnal diameter size indications yof saidf'types of joints andalso circumferentially spacedjgroups ofinternal diameter'size indications of said types of joints, a reference disc adjacent said one face and having an opening selectively disposable over said reference indications upon relative rotation between said dial and disc, an indicator disc adjacent said other face and having an opening selectively disposable over said external diameter size indications and another opening selectively disposable over said internal diameter size indications upon relative rotationv between said dial and indicator disc, means mounting said dial and discs for relative rotation about a common axis., said discs having means thereon lengageable with a portion of a joint to locate said openings of said indicator disc with respect to said groups-of internal and external diameter size indications.

7. A caliper for measuring threaded joints, comprising a dial having circumferentially spaced reference indications on one face thereof representing diierent types of joints, the other face of said dial having circumferentially spaced groups of external diameter size indications of said types of joints vand also circumferentially spaced groups of internal diameter size indications of said types of joints, a reference disc adjacent said one face and having an opening selectively disposable over said reference indications upon relative rotation between said dial and disc, detent means on said dial and disc releasably coupling said disc to said dial in such selective positions, an inicator disc adjacent said other face and having an opening selectively disposable over said external diameter size indications and another opening selectively disposable over said internal diameter size indications upon relative rotation between said dial and indicator disc, means mounting said dial and discs for relative rotation about a common axisl said discs having means thereon engageable with a portion of a joint to locate said openings of said indicator disc with respect to said groups of internal and external diameter size indications.

8. A caliper for measuring threaded joints, comprising a dial having circumferentially spaced reference indications on one face thereof representing different types of joints, the other face of said dial having circumferentially spaced groups of external diameter size indications of said types of joints and also circumferentially spaced groups of internal diameter size indications of said types of joints, a reference disc adjacent said one face and having an opening selectively disposable over said reference indications upon relative rotation between said dial and disc, said dial having holes therein in substantial radial alignment with said reference indication, a detent on said reference disc disposable in said holes to releasably couple said dial and reference disc together, an indicator disc adjacent said other face and having an opening selectively1 disposable over said external diameter size indications and another opening selectively disposable over said internal diameter size indications upon relative rotation between said dial and indicator disc, means mounting said dial and discs for relative rotation about a common axis, said discs having means thereon engageable with a portion of a joint to locate said openings of said indicator disc with respect to said groups of internal and external diameter size indications.

9. A caliper for measuring threaded joints, comprising a dial having circumferentially spaced reference indications on one face thereof representing different types of joints, the other face of said dial having circumferentially spaced groups of; external diameter size indications of said typesfcf Joints and. also circumferentially spaced groups of internal diameter size indications of said types'of joints, a reference disc adjacent said one face and having an opening selectively disposable over said reference indications upon relative rotation between said dial and disc, said dial having holes therein in substantial radial alignment with said reference indications, a detent on said reference dise disposable in said holes to releasably couple said dial and reference disc together, an indicator disc adjacent said other face and having an opening selectively disposable over said external diameter size indications and another opening selectively disposable over said internal diameter size indications upon relative rotation between said dial and indicator disc, said indicator disc having an indicator at each of said openings alignable with said external and internal diameter size indications, means mounting said dial and discs for relative rotation about a coinmon axis, said discs having means thereon engageable with a portion of a joint to locate said indicators of said indicator disc with respect to said external and internal diameter size indications.

l0. A caliper for kmeasuring threaded joints, comprising a dial having circumferentially spaced reference indications on one face thereof representing different types of joints, the other face of said dial having circumferentially spaced groups of external diameter size indications of said types of joints and also circumferentially spaced groups of internal diameter size indications of said types of joints, said groups of external diameter size indications being disposed from the axis of the dial a different radial distance than said group of internal diameter size indications, a reference disc adjacent said one face and having an opening selectively disposable over said reference indications upon relative rotation between said dial and disc, an indicator disc adjacent said other face and having an opening selectively disposable over said external diameter size indications and another opening selectively disposable over said internal diameter size indications upon relative rotation between said dial and indicator disc, means mounting said dial and discs for relative `rotation about a common axis, said discs having means thereon engageable with a portion of a joint to locate said openings of said indicator disc with respect to said groups of internal and external diameter size indications.

JAMES D, GARDNER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

